Feeding or conveying mechanism.



6. WHITE.

FEEDING 0R CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 1913.

1 ,226,932. Patented May 22, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES 1m INVENTOH auge Wifii 6 ATTORNEY G. WHITE.

FEEDING 0R CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1913.

1,226,932. Patented May 22,1917.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/ 7/VESSES /;@l 4 INVENTOI? 1 f 6- ear a W t t W By 1 e %;TOHNEY M 43 UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

GEORGE WHITE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW J ERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PANAYIOTIS PANOULIAS, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FEEDING 0R CONVEYING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed July 19, 1913. Serial No. 779,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WHITE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding 0r Conveying Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to conveyers for carrying articles of various characters, and has been designed especially for receiving goods from a candy-coating machine or the like, and for carrying such goods to a place where they may be removed by the attendant. While the invention is particularly adapted for the use just indicated, I desire it to be understood that I do not by any means restrict myself to this specific use, as the device is capable of numerous other applications.

The object of my invention is to provide a conveyer which will be automatic and certain in its action, while simple and durable in construction.

A specific embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved machine, with parts broken away to better disclose certain elements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the machine; Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine; Fig. 4 is a partial face view of one of the carriers on which the goods are deposited; Fig. 5 is an end view of such carrier; Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section showing the overlapping of two carriers; Fig. 7 is a detail, with parts in section, illustrating the feeding of the carriers; and Fig. 8 is a detail of the right-hand portion of Fig. 2, with the parts in a different position.

The frame 20 of the machine is shown as supported at one end by a portion 21 of the machine or apparatus from which the goods are received, and at the other end by legs 22. In this frame are journaled at each side thereof, sprocket wheels 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 respectively, serving as supports, and one of them (23) also as driving means for a chain 28, it being understood that there is one such chain at each side of the machine. The simplest way of driving the chains in perfect unison consists in securing the two sprocket wheels 23 to the shaft 29, which is rotated by any suitable mechanism. Any appropriate means may be provided for tightenln'g or loosening the chains when desired, for instance the sprocket wheels 26 may be mounted on pins or studs 30 adjustable in longitudinal slots 31 of the frame 20, nuts 32 being employed to secure the studs after adjustment. The sprocket wheel 24 is preferably set in such a relation to the adjacent sprocket wheels 23 and 25 respectively as to cause the chains 28 to have a reentrant portion at this point.

- The upper runs of the chains 28, between the sprocket wheels 25 and 26, extend over the edge portions of a table 33, preferably of sectional construction, although other means might be employed for supporting and guiding the said upper runs. Adjacent to the sprocket wheel 27 which is located at the bottom, at the end farthest from the receiving portion, the frame 20 is provided with curved guides or slides 34, on which are adapted to be placed the projecting ends 35 of bars 36 extending through loops 37 formed at one end of the carriers 38. These carriers consist of flexible material of proper character for the intended use, thus strong paper is an appropriate material for the carriers when used for conveying coated confections (candies, chocolates, etc). The bar 36 may of course be connected with the carrier proper 38 in other ways than by looping the carrier around the bar. The ends 35 of the foremost bar 36 are normally arrested by hooks 39, pivoted to the frame 20 at 40, these hooks being in transverse alinement so as to properly engage the ends 35 of said bar. The attendant places the carriers at the upper ends of the guides 34 as required during the operation of the machine, so that they will slide down said guides until they are stopped by the foremost bar 36. The hooks 39 are adapted to yield downward under conditions to be de-- scribed presently, and are normally pressed upward against the inner end of the guide 34, by a spring 42 one end of which is secured to a stationary pin 43 and the other to an arm 44 extending from the hook 39. Below the sprocket wheels 27, and adjacent to the hooks 39, a stationary scraper 45 extends across the machine so that the carriers 38, when they are fed by thechains 28 in the manner described hereinafter, will be drawn over said scraper bar 45. At about the same level with the scraper 45, a support or table 46 extends across the machine,

adjacent to the lower runs of the chains 28 between the sprocket wheels 23 and 27.

Each of the chains 28 is provided with a suitable number of hooks 47 projecting on the outer side of the chain, the preferred construction consisting in forming these hooks directly on some of the chain links. It will be understood that the hooks of one chain are in transverse alinement with those of the other chain. As indicated in Fig. 1, the chains 28, and therefore the hooks 47, are located in the same vertical planes with the guides 34, so that the end 35 of the bars 36 will be in the path of the chain hooks 47, as soon as the corresponding bar reaches the foremost position (see Fig. 2).

Above the lower or forward end of each guide 34, and adjacent to the respective chain 28, a separating bar 48, preferably sharpened at its lower end, is mounted to slide in a stationary guide 49, in such a position that when such bars move down, their lower ends will enter between the ends 35 of the foremost bar 36 and those of the 'neXt bar, and inasmuch as the hooks 39 prevent the foremost bar from moving forward at the time, the other bars will be shifted rearward. For the purpose of operating the bars 48 at the proper time, levers 50, pivoted to the frame 20 at 51, extend loosely through an apertured portion of each separating bar. Each of these bars is drawn upward by a spring 52, to bring the stop pin 53 of the bar against the lower end of the guide 49. The free ends of the levers are engaged at times, .by pins 54 projecting from the chains 28 at proper points (a lateral extension of the chain pivots will do).

At the other end of the machine, that is to say, at the receiving end, a plate 55 is mounted to slide horizontally between the delivery conveyer 56 or other suitable part of the machine from which the goods are received, and the adjacent edge of the table 33. The plate 55 is suitably supported and guided for this purpose, partly by means referred to hereinafter, and partly by brackets 57 secured to the underside of the table 33 and provided with slots 58 to receive pins 59 projecting downardly from the plate 55. Guide brackets 60 secured to the plate 55, slide on horizontal rods 41 secured to the table 33, and a special holding device described hereinafter) is pro vided for the free (right-hand) portion of said plate. Adjacent to the runs of the chains 28, the plate 55 is provided with sockets or openings 61 into which project lugs 62 extended upward from short sleeves 63 mounted to rock on any suitable support, such as a rod or shaft 64 extending transversely of the machine. Each of said sleeves also has an arm 65 connected with a spring 66 having a tendency to separate the plate 55 from the table 33. Another arm 67 projects from each sleeve 63 toward the adjacent portion of the chain 28, but at one side thereof, so as not to engage said chain normally. The arms 67 are however in the path of the chain pins 54. The righthand or free end of the plate 55 is engaged and partly supported by a presser bar 68 carried by brackets 69 hinged to the frame 20 at 70 and pressed upward and toward the left Fig. 2) by springs 71.

In the normal position, the plate 55 has its free end near to, but preferably not in contact with, the conveyer 56 or other part from which the goods are received. The attendant places a number of carriers 38 on the guides '34 so that they will slide down against the hooks 39, and from time to time, as the carriers are taken from the guides 34 in the manner described hereinafter, additional carriers are placed on said guides. As the chains 28 are caused to travel by the operation of the shaft 29, two of the pins 54 will engage the levers 50 and move the separating bars 48 downward so that these bars will enter between the foremost bar 36 and the one adjacent to it, thus keeping the remaining carriers back when the front carrier is taken along by the chains. Immediately after the separating bars have moved down in the rear of the foremost carrier 38, two hooks 47 engage the ends 35 of the bar 36 of the foremost carrier 38 and pull this carrier away from the hooks 39, which yield sufficiently to release the said carrier, but are then immediately returned to their former position by the springs 42. As the chains 28 continue to travel, the carrier 38 is drawn with them toward the right (Fig. 2) over the scraper 45, which provents the carrier from forming folds and also removes from the carrier any chocolate or other material which may have stuck to the carrier at a previous operation. As the carrier reaches the right-hand portion of the machine, it is preferably kept taut by elastic fingers 72 arranged adjacent to the sprocket wheels 23, and secured to the frame 20. The carrier then travels upward and comes in contact with the presser bar 68, the springs 71 enabling this bar to yield so as to allow the passage of the carrier, and after the forward portion of the carrier (containing the bar 36) has passed, the presser bar 68 keeps the carrier 38 taut. Shortly before the front edge of the carrier reaches the level of the plate 55, the pins 54 on the chains 28 engage the arms 67 on the sleeves 63 and rock these sleeves in such a way as to carry the plate 55 away from the conveyer 56, so that the carrier 38 can pass readily between saidplate and the conveyer 56. As soon as the pins 54 clear the arms 67, the springs 66 will restore the plate 55 to its former position, the righthand ends of the slots 58 acting as stops for the pins 59. As indicated in Fig. 6, the distance between successive hooks 47 and the length of the carriers should preferably be such that the carriers will partly overlap, so that when the carriers reach the upper chain runs, a continuous conveying surface will be formed by the overlapping carriers 38 on the table 33. Thus coated candies or other articles may be fed continuously or intermittently as desired from the conveyer-56 or like part, to the carriers 38, and deposited on said carriers in rows or any other arrangement. At the lefthand end of the machine, the carriers 38 with the articles thereon are removed by an attendant, and after the goods have been taken from the carriers (which may be done after a suflicient interval of time to enable the goods to be handled with safety), the carriers are returned to their original position on the guides 34. The separating bars 48 of course spring upward as soon as the pins 54 release the levers 50, and thus the carrier previously held back by said bars may slide down against the hooks 39, to be caught by the next pair of hooks 47 and carried along by the chains in the same manner as described above. The carriers 38 rest on the lower table 46 during their movement along the lower runs of the chains 28.

It will be seen that the attendant has nothing to do but to supply empty carriers 38 to the guides 34 as required, and to remove the carriers with the goods thereon, when such carriers reach the left-hand portion of the machine (Fig. 2) in every other respect, the operation is entirely automatic.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A feeding mechanism comprising parallel chains each provided with hooks and with projections in the rear of said hooks, means for causing said chains to move in unison, a guide for feeding carriers to a point where they may be caught by said hooks, and means, located in the path of said projections so as to be operated by them, for separating that carrier which is in position to be engaged by the hooks, from the other carriers.

2. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless chain conveyer provided with means forcatching and transporting carriers, and with projections at a distance from said means, a guide for feeding carriers to a point where they may be caught by said means, and a device extending into the path of the conveyer projections, for separating that carrier which is in operative relation to the conveyer, from the other carriers.

3. A feeding mechanism comprising a guide for conducting carriers to a predetermined point, an endless conveyer having means for engaging and transporting said carriers, and also having projections, and a device extending into the path of said projections, for separating that carrier which is in operative relation to the conveyer, from the other carriers.

4. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless conveyer, a guide, located adjacent to said conveyer, for directing carriers thereto, and means on the conveyer for engaging the carriers while on said guide and taking them one by one from said guide.

5. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, a guide for holding carriers and directing them to said conveyer, and means on the conveyer for engaging the carriers while on said guide and taking them from said guide.

6. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, a guide adjacent thereto, yielding means located at the end of the guide nearest the conveyer and adapted to temporarily arrest carriers placed on the conveyer, and means on the conveyer for pulling the carriers while in engagement with said yielding means from said guide, against the resistance of said yielding means.

7 A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, a guide for holding carriers and directing them to said conveyer, yielding hooks located at the end of the guide nearest the conveyer and adapted to arrest the carriers temporarily, and means on the conveyer for taking the carriers from said guide.

8. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, a guide for holding carriers and directing them to said conveyer, yielding means located at the end of the guide adjacent to the conveyer and forming stops for temporarily arresting the carriers, means on the conveyer for taking the carriers from said guide, and means, likewise operated by the conveyer, for temporarily holding back the carriers not in operative relation to the conveyer.

9. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, means for holding carriers adjacent to said conveyer, yielding means for arresting the foremost carrier, engaging means on the conveyer for taking the foremost carrier away from its neighbor, movable means for separating the foremost carrier from its neighbor, and means on the conveyer for operating said separating means.

10. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, means for holding carriers adjaj acent to said conveyer, yielding means for arresting the foremost carrier, hooks on the conveyer to pull the foremost carrier away from its neighbor, movable separating means adapted to hold back the other carriers at the time the foremost carrier is taken away by the conveyer, and means on the conveyer for operating said separating means.

11. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless conveyer having upper and lower runs, means for holding carriers and directing them to one end of the lower run of said conveyer, and means on the conveyer for engaging the foremost carrier while held by said means and taking said carrier away from its neighbor.

12. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless conveyer having upper and lower runs, means for holding carriers and directing them to one end of the lower conveyer run, a plate movable lengthwise of the upper conveyer run at the opposite end thereof, means on the conveyer for taking the fore- 'most carrier away from the others, means for delivering articles to the carriers as they pass in contact with said plate, movable separating means adapted to hold back the remaining carriers at the time the foremost carrier is taken away by the conveyer, and means on the conveyer, having the double function of operating said separating means and also of causing said plate to move away from the delivery means as the carriers pass over the free edge of said plate.

13. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless conveyer having an upper run, means for holding carriers on said conveyer, a device for delivering articles to said carriers at one end of the upper conveyer run, a plate arranged to be engaged by the carriers at said end of the upper conveyer run, and movable toward and from said delivery device, means for pressing the carriers against said plate, and means for operating said plate.

14L. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, means for presenting carriers thereto, means on the conveyer for taking the foremost carrier away from the others, and a scraper arranged to engage the carriers adjacent to the point where they are seized by the conveyer.

15. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer, means for presenting carriers to said conveyer, means on the conveyer for taking the presented carriers, a scraper arranged adjacent to the point where the carriers are seized by the conveyer, and a support adapted to engage the carriers as they pass beyond said scraper.

16. A feeding mechanism comprising an endless conveyer having upper and lower runs, means for presenting carriers to the conveyer at one end of its lower run, supports located beneath the conveyer runs to engage the carriers, a scraper arranged to engage the carriers between the presenting means and the adjacent end of the lower support, and means on the conveyer for taking the presented carriers.

17. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer provided with a straight run and adapted to feed carriers, a plate movable lengthwise of said conveyor run at one end thereof, means for delivering articles to the carriers as they pass in contact with said plate, and means on the conveyor for causing said plate to move away from the delivery means as the carriers pass over the free edge of said plate.

18. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer provided with a straight run and adapted to feed carriers, a plate movable lengthwise of said conveyer run at one end thereof and spring-pressed with a tendency to project it from the conveyer, means on the conveyer for causing said plate to move against the tension of its spring at the time thecarriers pass over the free edge of said plate, and means for delivering articles to the carriers as they pass in contact with said plate.

19. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer provided with a run and adapted to feed carriers, a device for delivering articles to said carriers at one end of said run, a plate arranged to be engaged by the carriers at said end of the conveyer run, and movable toward and from said delivery device, means for pressing the carriers against said plate, and means for operating said plate.

20. A feeding mechanism comprising a conveyer provided with a run and adapted to feed carriers, a device for delivering articles to said carriers at one end of said run, a plate arranged to be engaged by the car riers at said end of the conveyer run, and movable toward and from the delivery device, a spring tending to force said plate toward the delivery device, another spring for pressing the carriers against said plate, and means, operated by the conveyer, for periodically moving said plate away from the delivery device.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WHITE.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. RURODE, M. L. NIMMO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

